Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
PM Hasina receives IDF Global Ambassador for Diabetes medal
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today received the medal and citation of IDF Global Ambassador for Diabetes.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen handed over the medal to her at her official residence Ganabhaban this morning, said PM's Speech Writer Md. Nazrul Islam.
Read more: Work collectively for a fair economic order: PM at Voice of South Summit
Sheikh Hasina was offered the first-ever Honorary title of the Global Ambassador for Diabetes in recognition of her role to ensure affordable access to health care for patients with diabetes and other non-communicable diseases during the opening ceremony of the IDF world diabetes congress held in Lisbon, Portugal on 5 December 2022.
Earlier the Prime Minister accepted the title during a call on by IDF President Professor Akhtar Hussain on 24 August 2022 at Ganabhaban here in Dhaka.
Read more: If voted to power in next election, will continue Bangladesh’s dev journey: PM tells CPC Vice-Minister
The Bangladesh Ambassador to Portugal accepted the title on her behalf at the opening ceremony of the IDF world diabetes congress in Lisbon.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, PM’s ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin, PM's Principal Secretary Tofazzal Hossain and Senior Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were present, while handing over the medal and the citation at Ganabhaban.
Anjumane Al Islah delegation meets PM
A delegation of Bangladesh Anjumane Al Islah led by its president Moulana Hushamuddin Chowdhury Fultoli met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her Ganabhaban residence Thursday afternoon.
PM's speech writer Md. Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.
Read more: PM emphasises signing PTA, FTA with Brazil and three other South American countries
During the meeting, they discussed various issues relating to curriculum and education system.
The delegation appraised the Prime Minister of the absence of the glories of Muslim civilization in different books for schools and madrashas.
The Prime Minister listened to them and assured of looking into those issues.
AL is party of people, no force can dislodge it from power: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said that there is now no force in Bangladesh that can overthrow her Awami League government.
“The Awami League has deep roots among the people. No such force has yet emerged that can topple the Awami League government,” she told Parliament, replying to a supplementary question from Jatiya Party MP Fakhrul Imam.
Hasina, also the AL president, said her party wasn’t born from the pocket of any power-grabber and military dictator, rather it was born from the soil and the people of this country. “So, our roots have gone deeper into the soil,” she said.
She said dictators like Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Gen. Ziaur Rahman, Gen. Ershad and Khaleda Zia tried to destroy Awami League but failed. No such force will ever again be able to do so with the AL, she said.
“When Awami League is in power, it means the government serves the people and changes the fate of the people,” she said, asking all to remember what the condition of Bangladesh was before her party was voted to power 14 years ago.
In his question, Fakhrul referred to one-eleven political changeover in 2007 and asked the PM if she thinks it is now time to reach political compromise among all parties though there is no possibility that the country would witness another one-eleven due to her wise leadership.
Read more: If come to power, will build ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041: PM tells JS
The PM said those who polluted the election, utterly destroyed the electoral process, snatched away the voting rights of the people and played ducks and drakes with the fate of the people are now raising questions over election.
“What right do they have to raise questions (regarding election)? ….If we analyze every election, we see that the people can vote peacefully when the Awami League is in power,” she said.
She said the people vote for the Awami League spontaneously because they know this party keeps the promises it makes.
Hasina said BNP didn’t join the 2014 general election as the party knew that they secured only 30 seats in the 2008 election and the country witnessed an unprecedented development thanks to steps taken by the grand alliance government. “So, the people bestowed their trust and confidence in us and voted for us. They (BNP) boycotted the election,” she said.
The PM said BNP apparently stood aside from the 2018 election midway due to nomination business and tried to make the polls questionable. “They have been able to make it questionable by carrying out different campaigns and propaganda…. But the people still have trust and confidence in Awami League,” she added.
Pointing to Fakhrul, the PM said there is nothing to be scared. “Don’t be scared. We’re still here (in power). There is nothing to be worried,” she added.
In reply to another supplementary question from AL lawmaker Dhirendra Debnath Shambhu, the premier said the government would take tougher action, if necessary, against the hoarders of commodities and black marketeers in order to ease the sufferings of consumers.
She said the matter is really unfortunate here in Bangladesh that the businessmen try to enhance the commodity prices anyhow during Ramazan and other festivals when their demands go higher. But in other countries, the prices of commodities are always reduced during festivals.
She said the businesspeople are dilly dallying in importing commodities in many cases as they want to make profit by increasing the prices and demand of goods. “It is inhumane,” she added.
“We’re taking proper actions against the hoarders, black-marketeers and those who are engaged in LC-related anomalies…. If needed, we’ll take tougher actions and we will pay special attention so that people won’t suffer,” she added.
Read more: If voted to power in next election, will continue Bangladesh’s dev journey: PM tells CPC Vice-Minister
Responding to a supplementary question from AL MP Ahasanul Islam (Titu), the PM said the government is taking steps to ensure proper supply of commodities during the upcoming Ramazan.
“We want so that the people of our country won’t suffer during Ramazan,” she said.
The government has kept arrangements to open LCs for importing essential consumer goods from different countries, she said adding that there is no problem in opening LCs for importing food items at proper prices.
In reply to a question from Gonoforum MP Mukabbir Khan, the PM outright rejected the allegations of corruption in various mega projects and threw a challenge to place specific evidence—where and how much money was lost due to corruption.
“The allegations he has raised are completely baseless…. I am throwing a challenge to the lawmaker that he will have to say clearly here about where and what amount (of money) was lost due to corruption and I will answer to these,” she said.
Mukabbir in his question raised allegations of corruption in mega projects and quick rental power plants.
If come to power, will build ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041: PM tells JS
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said if her party can form government again its vision would be transforming every village into a township and the country into a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041.
“If Bangladesh Awami League forms the government in the future, our vision will be building a ‘Smart Bangladesh' by 2041,” she told Parliament, replying to a starred question from Jatiya Party lawmaker Rustum Ali Faraji (Pirojpur-3).
The Prime Minister said a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ will be based on smart citizens, smart economy, smart government and smart society.
She said Awami League's "Election Manifesto-2018: Bangladesh on the journey to Prosperity" which was presented before the nation on the eve of the 11th National Parliamentary elections outlined plans for building a 'prosperous and developed Bangladesh by 2041' and a 'safe delta' by 2100.
As the first step in the journey of a developed Bangladesh, the country has already become a developing one from a least developed country, she said.
Bangladesh will become an upper middle-income country by 2031 with average per capita income above $ 5,906 and Bangladesh will be a developed country in 2041 with per capita income of over $ 12,500, she said.
Noting that currently the GDP growth rate in Bangladesh is 7.25 percent, Hasina said the target is to raise the rate to 8.51 in 2025, 9.0 in 2031 and 9.9 in 2041.
In order to accomplish the vision, different short, medium and long-term plans will be taken, she said.
Read more: From ‘Digital Bangladesh’ to ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041, PM announces
The plans, which now are under consideration, include the 2nd perspective plan 2021-2041 to build a ‘Smart Bangladesh’ in the line with the Vision-2041, Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100 to build a smart delta, the 9th five-year plan (2026-2030), the 10th five-year plan (2031-2035) and the 11th five-year plan (2036-2040), she said.
The PM said the agricultural production would be raised through promoting agricultural mechanisation; small, cottage, medium and large industries would be developed: all projects undertaken for road, sea, rail and air connectivity would be completed; a massive employment would be generated by ensuring local and foreign investment in 100 economic zones, and steps would be taken emphasising on agriculture and food processing industries.
She also said the production of digital devices and the own market for the devices would be expanded by increasing the purchasing power of the people of Bangladesh alongside finding new overseas markets for the items.
Hasina said the overall living standard of all the people of Bangladesh will be improved by ensuring the basic needs of people -- clothing, shelter, education and medical care- up to the grassroots level in the country.
Read more: AL's V-Day vow: To build fully-developed, Smart Bangladesh by 2041
“A developed golden Bangladesh will be built by transforming every village into a township,” she said, adding that the detailed plans will be published in the next election manifesto in time.
Bangabandhu’s blood debt to be repaid by building a smart Bangladesh: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday expressed firm conviction to build the country as developed, prosperous and smart Bangladesh by 2041 to repay the blood debt of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“He had paid the debt (of people’s love towards him) by his blood. Now it’s our turn to repay his blood debt. And we’ll be able to repay the blood debt when every homeless person gets home and we can make the country a developed and prosperous one by ensuring food, cloth, home, healthcare and education for the people of Bangladesh,” she said.
The premier said this while participating in the discussion on a resolution brought in the House to pay tribute to Bangabandhu and take a vow for building his dream ‘Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal), marking his historic Homecoming Day after the 1971 Liberation War.
Awami League lawmaker Mostafizur Rahman (Dinajpur-5) placed the resolution under the section 147 of the Rules of Procedure, which was adopted unanimously by a voice vote following the discussion over the proposal.
Hasina said the people of Bangladesh had taken up arms in their hands responding to the call of the Father of the Nation and shed their blood and made the country an independent one.
So, the Father of the Nation in his historic speech delivered in then Race Course maidan returning home on January 10, 1972 promised to repay the debt of this Bengali nation’s love toward him anyhow even with his blood, she said adding that he repaid the debt with his blood.
The PM said her government has successfully implemented its Vision-2021 and turned the country into a developing country in 2021 during the golden jubilee of the country’s independence and the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation.
She said her government has implemented the pledges whatever her party Awami League made in the 2008, 2014 and 2018 election manifestos.
“We’ll build a develop-prosperous-golden Bangladesh by 2041 after completing Bangladesh's graduation into a developing country by 2026,” she said.
Read more: Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu: PM pays tribute at Dhanmondi-32
Noting that her government turned the country into a Digital Bangladesh, the premier said, “We’ll build the country as a hunger-poverty-free Sonar Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation, which would be smart Bangladesh having the population equipped with modern technological knowledge. Then it would be repayment of the blood debt of the Father of the Nation,” she added.
Hasina elaborated the lifelong struggles and sacrifices of the Father of the Nation for establishing an independent Bangladesh and bringing smiles on the faces of the people.
AL lawmakers Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, advocate Qamrul Islam and Nurul Islam Nahid, Jatiya Party MPs Kazi Firoz Rashid, Sayed Abu Hossain and Rowshan Ara Mannan, Jasod lawmaker Hasanul Haq Inu and Workers Party lawmaker Rashed Khan Menon joined the discussion.
In the resolution, Mostafizur Rahman said, "Parliament is in the opinion that the historic homecoming of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on January 10 is a special glorious day in the national life of Bengalis. Sheikh Mujib, the undisputed leader of Bengalis, returned home on January 10, 1972 after being freed from Pakistan's captivity 24 days after the victory in the Liberation War……. On this day, let us remember the greatest Bengali of all time and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and take a firm oath for building the golden Bengal as dreamt by him in line with the spirit of the Liberation War by bearing his ideology in hearts.”
The proposal also reads that the Pakistanis had taken various plans to kill Bangabandhu during his incarceration at that time. Bangabandhu was not only tortured, but also taken to the gallows. But the Pakistani rulers had to bow down ultimately to the popularity of Bangabandhu at home and abroad, and his indomitable courage. In the absence of Bangabandhu, the Bengali nation continued the bloody war following the path and ideology of Bangabandhu. On December 16, 1971, the Pakistani occupation forces were forced to surrender, it said.
Read more: PM thanks JaPa for playing positive role in parliamentary democracy
Bangabandhu returned to the country on January 10, 1972 via London and New Delhi after being freed from Pakistan prison. On that day, he returned to an independent and sovereign country. 10th January is a special day in the life of the Bengali nation, it added.
Far-right and far-left side with BNP to unseat govt: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday warned that all the extreme rightist and leftist groups are joining forces with the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party to try to oust her Awami League government, which has been working tirelessly for the welfare of the country and its people.
“Now they (BNP) are saying they will forge movement from 11 (January)…they got their as their companions the extreme leftists and rightists. All extremists are gathering in one place to topple us from power,” she said.
The premier was addressing a discussion marking the historic Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu organised by the Awami League at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC). Hasina, also the AL president, presided over the event.
On this day in 1972, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to the newly liberated Bangladesh via London and New Delhi after spending nine and a half months in a Pakistani jail.
Hasina said that her government is so strong that it won’t be easy at all for BNP and its extremist allies to oust it from power.
“Let me tell you one thing. The AL works for the people and their welfare. Don’t think it will fall down if one shakes it. Things are not that much easy,” she said.
On the other hand, she said, her party does know very well how to oust illegal power grabbers and voter riggers. “And we had proved that repeatedly.”
She said that taking advantages of digital transformation of the country BNP has hired people who are spreading slander against Awami League on the social media and trying to confuse the people.
“They spread panic over the December 10 (rally of BNP) beating drums and trumpets, but it finally went to Golapbag,” she said ridiculing the opposition party.
PM Hasina recalled that Khaleda Zia was compelled to cancel two elections - February 15, 1996 and January 6, 2006 - that took place under her government.
“People deposed them as they rigged people’s votes. They were ousted and rejected repeatedly by the people. How would they practice democracy? They and their party do not have any democracy in them,” she said.
Also read: Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu: PM pays tribute at Dhanmondi-32
She claimed that Awami League practices democracy within the party and also in the country.
“Transparent ballot boxes, voters’ lists with photos, ID cards and EVMs all have been introduced by us so that people could cast their votes freely,” she said.
Coming to power with people’s verdict, Hasina said, her party engaged all their strength for the development and welfare of the people.
“Advancement of AL will be continued. Inshallah, we will build Golden Bangladesh and Smart Bangladesh. This is our pledge to our Father (of the Nation),“ she said.
She also mentioned that supreme sacrifice of the Father of the Nation and millions of martyrs must not go in vain.
“It will not go in vain. People of Bangladesh will move across the world with their heads ever high,” she said.
The prime minister said that her party has developed the country following ideals and principles of Bangabandhu.
The government is advancing the country according to the AL election pledge and Bangladesh has already got the status of a developing country, she said.
Coming down heavily on Zia, Ershad and Khaleda governments, Hasina said that they had failed to develop the country.
Also read: Proposal was made to demolish Kamalapur Station for metro rail landing, and I opposed: PM
Elaborating the changed scenario of the country in the last 14 years, she said that the present generations cannot even imagine the condition of Bangladesh before 2009.
She said that those who were born 20 years ago and did not see 1975 and those who have no idea about the 1971 do not know how was Bangladesh during that time.
Saying that anti-liberation forces and the ghosts of 1971 had been in the state power for a long time, Hasina regretted that one of the killers of Bangabandhu became the army chief and the president of the country.
Not only that, the governments after the 1975 carnage distorted the history of country’s emergence, she said accusing them of narrating false history among the new generations.
Even, the freedom fighters could not tell about their identities, she regretted.
The PM said that after returning to power after 21 years, Awami League began working for the welfare of the country and its people.
Later, the Awami League government developed Bangladesh as a digital country and ensured basic rights of the people including their foods, cloths, housing and treatment, she added.
Hasina also elaborated lifelong struggles and sacrifices of the Father of the Nation for establishing an independent Bangladesh and bringing smile on faces of the people.
She said that the independence of the country was completed after the homecoming of the undisputed leader of the Nation Bangabandhu on January 10.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader gave the welcome address at the programme where AL central committee members Professor Mohammad Ali Arafat, Advocate Tarana Halim, former Jahangirnagar Vice-Chancellor Farzana Islam, eminent actor Ramendu Majumder, Dhaka South unit AL Abu Ahammad Mannafi and Dhaka north unit AL general secretary SM Mannan Kochi also spoke.
AL Publicity and Publication Secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap conducted the discussion.
Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day today
Today (January 10) marks the historic Homecoming Day of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the greatest Bangalee of all time. The day is being observed across the country in a fitting manner.
President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the eve of the day, paying tributes to the Father of the Nation.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid homage to the Father of the Nation by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhaka‘s Dhanmondi-32.
After laying the wreaths, the Prime Minister stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of independent Bangladesh.
Read: Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu: PM pays tribute at Dhanmondi-32
Awami League (AL) has planned various programmes to observe the historic day.
AL’s programmes began with the hoisting of the national and party flags at the party’s central office, Bangabandhu Bhaban and its party offices across the country at 6:30am.
AL leaders and workers paid homage to Bangabandhu by placing wreaths at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban in the city’s Dhanmondi area at 7:30am.
At 11 am, an AL delegation will pay respect to the undisputed leader of the nation by placing wreaths at his grave in Tungipara.
Read: Bangabandhu’s ‘Homecoming Day’ to be observed Tuesday
The AL delegation will include its presidium members Lt Col Muhammad Faruk Khan, central committee members Awowar Hossain, Shabuddin Farazi Iqbal Hossain Apu, Marufa Alter Popy, and Gloria Sarkar Jharna.
On the occasion, a discussion will be held on a limited scale at the party's central office in Dhaka’s Bangabandhu Avenue at 3:30 pm, maintaining the health safety guidelines while Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will preside over the event.
Besides, all district, city, upazila, thana, union and ward level units of the AL, its associate bodies are organising similar programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.
In a statement, AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader urged all party leaders, workers and its associates to observe all the programmes, marking Bangabandhu's Homecoming Day in a fitting manner.
Read More: Anne de Henning’s rare photos of Bangladesh’s birth, Bangabandhu to have Dhaka exhibit Dec 15-24
Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of the nation and supreme commander of the country's Liberation War, returned to the newly independent Bangladesh after over nine and half months of captivity in a Pakistan jail on January 10 in 1972.
Proposal was made to demolish Kamalapur Station for metro rail landing, and I opposed: PM
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (January 09, 2023) said that the government is facing various challenges in regard to development projects in the country.
“Challenges arise when we go for any (development) work… We completed all the projects, facing these challenges,” she said.
The prime minister said this while delivering her introductory speech at the weekly Cabinet meeting, held at her office (PMO).
Talking about the Metro Rail project, she said that initially, in the feasibility study, the MRT route was designed to go through Bijoy Sarani.
Read more: PM emphasises signing PTA, FTA with Brazil and three other South American countries.
“If we went with that, we would’ve had to close down the Tejgaon airport which has a 9000 ft long runway. I was vehemently against that proposal,” she recalled.
In this connection, she said that during the 1998 flood, all the relief arrived at the Tejgaon airport as Dhaka airport in Kurmitola went under water.
She also said that the planetarium’s (at Bijoy Sarani) dome was much higher in the original design.
“We reduced that height. If the height goes beyond 60-70 ft, it will come under the airport funnel (of the Tejgaon airport),” she said.
Read more: Doing whatever is needed to ease pains despite war, pandemic: PM
She told the Cabinet meeting that if the old alignment were used, the government would have to demolish 22 buildings.
“I proposed the new route, using the Khamar Bari area,” she said.
The PM also said that she extended the metro rail route up to Kamalapur from Bangladesh Bank.
“At that time, proposal was made to demolish Kamalapur Station for metro rail – for its turning and landing space,” she added.
Read more: Stay alert against anarchy ahead of next election: PM Hasina to the Nation
The PM said she told the officials concerned that it would not be wise to demolish such a big landmark and construct another.
“I asked them, how we could go ahead while keeping that (Kamalapur) station intact. If necessary, metro rail will go over the station or find another site for turning. Now it is done that way,” she said.
She also mentioned that the Metro Rail project faced resistance at Dhaka University area from the students, saying that it would destroy the academic atmosphere of the university.
“I assured them that there will be no disturbance due to the Metro Rail as it will go through a corner of the university area,” she said.
Read More: Dhaka Metro Rail Uttara to Agargaon Route: A Detail Overview
The Metro Rail project came to a stop after the Holey Artisan attack, in which seven Japanese nationals involved with the project were killed.
“At that time, all Japanese people went back to their homeland. I expressed condolence at once to the then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and while visiting Japan, I met the family members of the seven deceased Japanese officials,” she said.
Later, she recalled, it was again stopped during the Covid-19 pandemic. “But at that time, the work progressed slowly, using the videoconferencing system,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina urged all to use metro rail cautiously and mindfully as it uses the most modern technology.
Read More: Fares of metro rail are reasonable: Quader
“I will request all to use the (Metro) Rail with utmost care, as this is an asset of the whole country and its people,” she said.
She said that the government of Bangladesh is constructing an underpass to go from the airport railway station to the airport – for the convenience of passengers and Hajj pilgrims.
PM emphasises signing PTA, FTA with Brazil and three other South American countries
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today stressed the need for boosting trade and business cooperation between Bangladesh and Brazil.
There is a huge prospect of business expansion between the two countries, she said.
The premier said this when Brazilian Ambassador to Bangladesh Paulo Fernando Dias Feres paid a courtesy call on her at the latter’s official residence Ganabhaban.
Read more: Doing whatever is needed to ease pains despite war, pandemic: PM
PM’s speech writer Md. Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.
Sheikh Hasina requested the Brazil government to prioritise expansion of bilateral trade and business.
She emphasised signing preferential trade agreement (PTA) or free trade agreement (FTA) with Brazil and three other MERCOSUR (The Southern Common Market) countries – Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – soon, as Bangladesh will graduate into a developing country in 2026.
Noting that discussions are continuing over signing PTA or FTA with the MERCOSUR countries, the PM urged for completing the signing process of the agreements soon.
Bangladesh mainly exports pharmaceuticals items and RMG products to Brazil and imports soybean, raw sugar and wheat.
The PM also emphasised on enhancing agricultural cooperation between Bangladesh and Brazil.
Noting that pharmaceutical items are now facing some restrictions over registration process in the Brazilian market, she asked the Brazil side to ease the restrictions.
About the Rohingya issue, she said Bangladesh is providing shelter to more than 11 lakh displaced Rohingyas, which is a huge burden for the country.
Read more: Stay alert against anarchy ahead of next election: PM Hasina to the Nation
She said the displaced Rohingya population continues is growing with the births of 30,000 babies every year.
The PM asked Brazil to play a decisive role in the United Nations Security Council over the Rohingya issue.
She congratulated the newly elected Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Sheikh Hasina expressed profound grief at the death of Brazilian football Legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento Pelé and conveyed condolences to his family and the people of Brazil.
The Brazilian ambassador said Bangladeshi readymade garments have a great demand in the Brazilian market. Brazil can be a major market for Bangladeshi RMG products, he added.
He said there is a huge scope to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, particularly in trade and technology.
Paulo Fernando put emphasise on enhancing the people-to-people and business-to-business contact between the two countries.
Regarding the bilateral agricultural cooperation, the envoy said agricultural good practices, experiences and technology can be shared with each other.
PM's Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Foreign Senior Secretary Masud Bin Momen were present at the meeting.
Stay alert against anarchy ahead of next election: PM Hasina to the Nation
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday asked the people to remain vigilant against the anti-liberation clique which has started plotting to seize power through the backdoor ahead of the next general election.
“I would like to urge everyone to keep a watchful eye so that none can snatch away the rights of the people through conspiracy. At the same time everyone should be alert so that none could create anarchy and damage the lives, livelihood and properties of the people in the name of movement,” she said.
The premier was addressing the nation on Friday evening through state-owned Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar, marking the 4th anniversary of her current government formed on January 7, 2019 following the 11th national election held on December 30, 2018.
Hasina said the next national election will be held at the end of this year or early next year. But the anti-liberation, power-hungry plunderers of public assets have already active in creating anarchy.
“Their aim is to create a chaotic situation and seize state power through the backdoor, and impede the progress of democracy too,” she said in her 25-minute speech delivered at 7:30pm.
The premier, who is also the president of the ruling Awami League, said the conspirators have employed hired intellectuals and statement-givers at home and abroad with looted money to malign Awami League. “They are trying to mislead people by spreading libels, false and fake information through social media. Don't be misled by their falsehoods,” she said.
She requested the political parties and institutions that believe in democracy and the rule of law not to allow and fuel any weird idea (mooted by the cliques ahead of the next election) that would undermine the constitutional process.
“We expect a free, fair and impartial election (to be held next time),” she said, adding that this is the first time a law has been enacted in Bangladesh to constitute an Election Commission.
She said the current Election commission has been constituted under that law through a search committee. “The Election Commission was given financial independence. The Commission is working independently and will continue to do so in the future. The government will continue providing all assistance to the Election Commission for holding fair and peaceful elections,” she added.
She said Awami League is a party of the people that believes in the peace of the people and the power of the people. “If the people make the party winner by voting for it, Awami League will continue to discharge the national responsibility of building the country. If they don’t make it the winner, then we will go to the line of the people. But wherever we are, we will serve the people,” she added.
On the occasion of the 4th anniversary of her current regime, the prime minister extended her sincere greetings and congratulations to the citizens at home and abroad. She also wished them a very happy Christian New Year of 2023.
Bangladesh has progressed a lot in last 14 years: PM
Focusing on the progress of the country during her governments since 2009, she said the image of Bangladesh has become brighter in the world arena in the last 14 years.
“Today none treats Bangladesh as a country of floods, droughts and disasters. Bangladesh is now an emerging economy and a role model for development,” she said.
PM Hasina said Awami League has been in the charge of governing the country for 14 years in a row after the formation of government in 2009.
Read more: Next general election to be held first week of 2024: PM Hasina announces at Cox’s Bazar rally
“Our country has progressed a lot. But we have to take it forward further. Achieving a developed and prosperous Bangladesh is our goal. After building Digital Bangladesh, our next goal is to build a Smart Bangladesh,” she said.
She said the use of robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, genetic engineering, biological technology and digital devices will be ensured in all fields including the industrial, trade-business, health, education and agriculture sectors in a bid to build Smart Bangladesh, having smart government, smart population and smart industrial factories. “Emphasis has been placed on research in all areas,” she added.
The PM focused her government’s successes in bringing the cent percent population under electricity coverage, strengthening road and rail connectivity, increasing food production, implementation of different large projects including Padma Bridge, metro-rail, Bangabandhu Tunnel under Karnaphuli River, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Dhaka-Mawa-Jajira Expressway, Bangabandhu-1 Satellite, 16-km Dhaka Airport-Kutubkhali Elevated Expressway projects, and setting up 100 economic zones.
She said the prices of daily essentials including fuel have soared also in Bangladesh as it happened at abnormal rates in the world due to the Russia-Ukraine war following the Covid-19 pandemic, sanctions and counter-sanctions imposed by the Western countries and Russia.
“We are purchasing some commodities at higher prices and distributing those at lower prices to the people with limited incomes,” she said adding that 10 million families can purchase rice at Tk 30 per kg and edible oil, pulses and sugar at affordable rates through TCB's fair price cards, while five million families can buy rice at Tk 15 per kg in a month.
The PM depicted the present scenario of Bangladesh in different social and economic indicators, comparing to the situation 16 years ago at fag end of BNP-Jamaat alliance rule.
She said the per capita income increased to US$ 2,824 now from US$ 543 in the 2005-2006FY, while poverty rate declined to 20 percent from 41.5 percent, the average life expectancy increased to 73 years from 64.5 years and the literacy rate to 75.2 percent from 45 percent.
She said the GDP increased to US$ 460.75 billion in 2021-22FY from only US$ 60 billion, the size of national budget to Tk 678,64,000 crore in the 2022-23FY from Tk 61,057 crore, the export earnings to US$ 52.08 billion in 2021-2022FY from US$ 10.52 billion, and the remittance inflow went up to US$ 22.07 billion in 2021-22FY from only US$ 4.80 billion.
She said the reserve of foreign currencies increased from only US$ 3.5 billion in 2005-06FY to US$ 48 billion in 2021, but declined to US$ 34 billion now due to the global economic downturn and high inflation. Still Bangladesh has a sufficient reserve to meet the five-month export expenditures, she added.
The PM said the allocation against the social safety net programmes rose to Tk 113,576 crore in the current fiscal year from only Tk 373 crore in 2005-2006FY, while the subsidy to the agriculture sector went up to Tk 40,000 crore from Tk 592 crore.
She said the electricity generation capacity has increased to 25,826 megawatt now from only 3,600 megawatt at the end of BNP-Jamaat regime and the population under the electricity coverage to 100 percent from only 45 percent in the same period. “We ensured electricity facilities to cent percent people in 2022. We illuminated all the houses,” she said.
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Hasina said Bangladesh is currently the 41st largest economy in the world. Today, Bangladesh has graduated to a developing country from a least developed country, she said.
Noting that Bangladesh has attained a revolutionary development in the communication sector, she said her government constructed and reconstructed hundreds of highways as well as bridges over major rivers, including Padma Bridge, Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge, Teesta Bridge, Payra Bridge, 2nd Kanchpur Bridge, 2nd Meghna Bridge, 2nd Gomti Bridge in the last 14 years in order to establish an uninterrupted road and rail connectivity.
PM Hasina said some 100 bridges were simultaneously opened in a single day in November last, while some 100 roads were inaugurated simultaneously in a day in December last.
“This is a unique achievement in the development history of the country,” she said, adding that some 718 kilometers of highways have been upgraded to four or above lanes in the last 14 years.
“Today, the people have started reaping the benefits of our visionary plans,” she said
Noting that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt of building an exploitation-and- deprivation-free Sonar Bangla (golden Bengal), she urged all to come forward to realize his dream by building a happy-prosperous non-communal Bangladesh.
"Let's work to build a smart country and bring smiles on the faces of the common people of this country," she told the nation.